IPL Preview: Rajasthan Royals Face Mumbai Indians

On paper, Mumbai look far superior to Dravid's men, but with the key men in the Royals rank getting into the groove, it won't be an easy task for Ponting's men.

JAIPUR: So what if star-studded Mumbai Indians were on top of the table with six points as of Tuesday afternoon? In T20 cricket, figures seldom matter. When they take on Rajasthan Royals at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Wednesday, it will be a new ball-game altogether. With six points in their kitty too, Rahul Dravid's men would be eager to turn the tables on Ricky Ponting's brigade.

The Rajasthan outfit surely has a lot to play for. After the victory over Kings XI Punjab, Dravid's men will be looking for another one. On the other hand, the convincing win over Pune Warriors will motivate Ponting's men too. And the fact that Mumbai Indians had bagged a 10-wicket victory here last year will boost their morale. Last time, Sachin Tendulkar and Dwayne Smith had slaughtered the Royals bowlers, and now with Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik in great form, the visitors will be looking for an encore.

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But then, in T20 cricket, nothing is impossible. There may not be many big names in the side, but the Royals are known for their fighting spirit. On paper, Mumbai look far superior to Dravid's men, but with the key men in the Royals rank getting into the groove, it won't be an easy task for Ponting's men. All eyes will, however, be on S Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh. This will be their first meeting since the 'Slapgate' fiasco was reopened.

While Sreesanth is set to play, Watson may bowl a few overs too. The Australian allrounder bowled at the nets on Monday, and it won't be surprising if he finally does turn his arm over in the match.

Though Mumbai Indians have the edge on paper, in this game of uncertainties, the script can change quite fast.